Emergency brake lock



y 1, 1952 A. B. S EPPMANN 2,601,909

EMERGENCY BRAKE LOCK Filed Dec. 15 1947 2 Sl-[EETS-Sl-IEET 1 INVENTOR.

. flZJ T' dCaJQ /WQHIY. V 9 M 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 A. B. SEPPMANN EMERGENCY BRAKE LOCK July 1, 1952 Filed Dec. 15, 1947 INVENTOR. AZ/raJ JP MQ/I/Z "m 8% mA u WWW M Patented July 1, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EMERGENCY BRAKE LOCK Alfred B. Seppmann, Mankatm Minn. ApplicationDecember 15, 1947, Serial No. 791,905

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a hydraulic type f emergency brake lock whereby the service brakes of a truck, automobile or the like may be used as emergency brakes by operating a hydraulic locking means to lock them in their applied position.

Heretofore trucks and the like provided with hydraulic brakes have been equipped with mechanical emergency brakes which are expected to hold the load in the event that it is necessary to lock the truck against movement as when leaving it standing or when it is necessary to stop on a hill temporarily for the purpose of changing a tire or efiecting some other necessary repair on the vehicle. The mechanicalemergency brakes are not as positive as hydraulic brakes, and. are subject to mechanical wear which sometimes results in theiriailure at an urgently needed time.

It is the purpose of my present invention to provide an emergency brake lock which is connected in the hydraulic service brake system in such manner that at the will oi the driver, the service brakes. can be locked in the applied position for the purpose of holding theload. Thus, the advantage of the hydraulic brakes is secured in an emergency and the emergency brake lock operates uponthe service brakes which have been continuously used in connection with the operation of the truck, and which the driver therefore knows are in good operating condition, whereas the mechanical emergency brake may have been unused for some period of time, and the cables or levers rusted or weakened so that he is never as sure of their successful operation as he is of the hydraulic service brakes.

One object of my invention is to provide an emergency brake lock in the form of a unit that can be'interposed between the master cylinders and a line to the brakes and operated selectively at a position on the steering column or dash to lock the brakes at will or render the emergency brake lock inoperative sothat the brakes operate in the normal manner.

Another object is to; provide a brake in the form of a'check valve and a selectively operable valve, theselectively operable valve being hydraulically controlled'from a control unit adjacent the steering wheel or on the dash so that it can be readily adjusted for rendering the check valve operable for brake lock use or inoperable for normal service brake use.

Still another object is to provide the brake lock unit in the form of a check valve and/a second valve bypassing the check valve, the seclock unit 2 0nd valve being normally open and being closed at the will of the driver, whereupon the check valve'becomes operable to prevent return flow of brake fluid which was pumped to the service brakes by depressing the service brake pedal.

A further object is to provide a brake lock unit and a control unit therefor whichare hydraulir cally connected together by a hydraulic system that is automatically charged with brake fluid from the master cylinder itself, thus simplifyi ing installation of the emergency brake lock.

Still a further object is toprovide a brake lock unit that may be readily interposed between a master cylinder-and the brake fluid lines to the brakes of a vehicle and operated by a'control unit which may be positioned remote from the lock unit and operatively connected therewith by a hydraulic line, thus reducing installation time and efiort to a minimum.

An additional object is to provide the valves of my brake lock unit special double-seating arrangements wherein initial seating is had on sealing washers of neoprene ,or the like, and after .slight compression thereof, metal to metal seat pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showingmy emergency brake lock connected between a master cylinder and the brakes of a truck or the like;

Figure 2 is a sectional view through the brake lock unit and its control unit, together with a connecting element for connecting the brake lock unit to the master cylinder;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 2 showing the outgoing connections for the brakefiuid lines;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view through a valve of mybrake lock unit showing an initial seating position:

Figure 5 is a similar sectional view showing the final seating position;

Figure 6 is' a sectional view on line 6-6 .of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view on line 1-1 of Figure 1. showing one way of supporting capable of I the control unit for my emergency brake lock;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the control unit partially in section and a modified construction whereby it is supported on the dash instead of the steering column on the truck; and

Figure 9 is a similar view showing a modified form of control unit wherein a cam lever may be made to assume either one of two positions for rendering the brake lock eiiective or ineffective instead of using the screw threaded type of control device shown in Figures 2 and 8.

On the accompanying drawings I have used the reference numeral ill to indicate in general a master cylinder of a hydraulic brake system. Such a cylinder is shown in detail in my copending application Serial No. 691,251, filed August 17, 1946, now Patent No. 2,580,850, issued January 1, 1952. Ihe master cylinder in has an outlet fitting l2 threaded as at [4 to normally receive a fitting on the intake end of the fluid brake line system. I remove such fitting and in place thereof screw a stud 16 into the threads 14, the stud having a head 18.

My emergency brake lock consists of a brake lock unit BL and a control unit C. The brake lock unit BL has an intake fitting 2ilthreaded into the head of another fitting 22 that has a bore 24 surrounding the stud I8. Gaskets 2E and 28 are interposed between-the elements [2, 22 and IS to effect a seal and the stud i6 is provided with a bore 30 and a lateral passageway 32 to communicate the interior of the fitting I! with the fitting 20.

Within the brake lock unit BL, a valve seat 34'is'provided. A valve plug 36 is adapted to seat thereaga'inst'with a metal to metal seat. The valve plug 36 (Fig. 2a) has a resilient sealing washer 38'thereon adapted to contact a face 40 of the valve seat 35. The parts are so proportioned that the washer 38 engages the face 40 a few thousandths of an inch before the plug 36 seats against the seat 34; for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

A spring. flZnormally seats the valve plug 35. This spring is retained in position by a retainer 44 which in itself constitutes a valve plug 46 to seat against a seat 48 and a resilient disc 59. Thedisc 50 is carried by a piston 52 backed by a sealing cup 54 of neoprene or the like. The' piston 52 as shown in Fig. 6 is provided with grooves 56in its periphery to permit passage of oil.

The cup 54 and the piston 52 are adapted to travel longitudinally in the bore 58 of the brake lock' BL. A spring 60 normally unseats the seat 48 and'the disc 50 from the valve plug 36 and engages the cup -5 with a stationary stop 62'.

An outlet fitting G t-communicates with the outlet side of the valve plug 36 by means of a passageway 66 and the inlet fitting 20 communicates with the inlet side of the valve plug 36' by means of passageways 68 and T8. The outer end of the passageway is plugged at 12', the purpose being so that the fitting 28 may be sub-' stituted for the plug and the plug for the fitting in the event that it is desirable to have brake lock BL extend downwardly from the fittingZiJ where space is available that might'not'be avail: able directly underneath the master cylinder. Thus, the brake lock unit is adapted for universal mounting.

The fitting 64 connects with a brake line M and a second fitting Etmay connect with a second brake line 16. The line i4 may extend to 4 the rear brakes I8 and the line 16 to the front brakes as illustrated in Figure 1, the lines supplying brake fluid to the actuating cylinders 82 of the brakes.

It will be noted in Figure 3 that a third opening is provided for a third fitting 84 but is plugged by a plug 84, the purpose of this arrangement being to provide for as many brake lines as found in any given truck or truck-trailer combination. In some instances, of course; a single brake line extends to all four brakes and two of the plugs 84 would be provided in that case.

The control unit C comprises a piston 86 in a cylindrical bore 88 with a sealing cup 90 ahead of the piston. The space in the bore ahead of the sealing cup is connected by a hydraulic line 92 and fittings 94 and 96 to the space in the cylinder 58 ahead of the sealing cup 56.

The piston 88 is adapted to be manually and selectively operated (left in the position of Fig. 2 for non-operation of the brake lock or the piston 88 pushed toward the left to push the piston 52 toward the right and close the valve 46 l850 in the operative position) by means of a screw threaded element 98 threaded in a retainer nut lot. The element 98 is provided with a knurled knob I82 for the purpose of rotating it. The cylinder 83 is provided with a vent plug Hi, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear.

The control unit C may be supported on the steering column Hi l of the vehicle, the steering wheel being shown at Hit. By way of illustration, the manner of support is a pair of clamp straps I08 engaging the steering column and the "control unit C and clamped in position by a In Figure 8, I show a modification of the control unit in which the nut I00 of Figure 2 is replaced by aspecial nut H2 having a threaded shank 1M. This shank is adapted to pass through an opening H6 of the dash H3 and the control unit is retained in position by a lock nut The control unit is thus dash-mounted which in some instances is moreconvenient than being steering column-mounted. This is especially true when the brake lock is installed on a passenger automobile. g

In Figure 9 I show another modified form of control unit wherein a special nut [22 replaces the elements Min and 2 of Figures 2 and "8 The nut H2 is bifurcated and a'cam lever' I24 is pivoted between its arms at I28; The camlever has acam surface providedwith a low point at 128 and'a high point at I30. These surfaces are adapted to enact with}; sliding pin I32 engageable with the-piston instead element 98' as in Figures2 and8,

PRACTICAL OPERATIBN Installation In the installation of my emergency brake lock,- I

the brake lines 14 and I6 originally connected directly to the master cylinder l0 are discon-;- nected therefromand the brak'e lock unit BL interposed between the fitting 12 of the master cylinder and the lines 14 and l6'in an obvious manner. The stud [6 may be interchangeable With others having the roper thread so tli'attli'e' brake lock unit may be installed onr'nost existin'g'i 0f the threaded and, of course, additional means may be provided for'additionally supporting it if necessary or described manner. The brake pedal l5 (see Fig.

l) is depressed which forces oil from themastei' cylinder l0, and such oil flows through a bypass passageway'69 into the space in the cylinder 58 behind the piston 52.

At this time, the plug 9| is left out so that the brake fluid may flow through the grooves 56 of Figure 6, and pass the edge of the cup 54, then flow through the openings in the stop 62 and into the line 92. system through the opening in' the control unit left unplugged by removing the-plug 9| and when fluid starts to flow out of this opening, the brake pedal is no longer depressed, but is held at that position and the plug 9| inserted to seal the system. This operation may take all of a single brake pedal travel and part of a second one and may necessitate adding additional brake fluid to the reservoir of the master cylinder.

The emergency brake lock system is thus charged with operating fluid, and will subsequently remain charged, even though there is slight leakage, as any time the fluid becomes less, additional'fluid will leak through the grooves 56 and past the cup 54 or be forced in this direction whenever the pressure within the-brake lock unit BL is greater than the pressure between this unit and the cup 98 in the control unit C.

When it is desirable to use the service brakes I8 and 88 in their normal capacity, the parts are adjusted as in Figure 2 with the spring 68- holding the seat 48 and the disc 58 of the piston 52 unseated fromthe valve plug 46. Accordingly, fluid may freely bypass the check valve 36 Thus, the air is driven out of the through the passageway 69 and then through the bore of the element 44. When the brakes are applied exceptionally hard, the check valve 36 may open against the action of the spring 42 to permit freer flow of brake fluid to the brakes.

Operation When it is desirable to use the service brakes l8 and 80 as an emergency brake system, it is merely necessary to turn the screw 98 clockwise by manipulating the knob I02 and this forces the piston 86 forwardly in the cylinder 88. Brake fluid is thereby displaced downwardly through the tube 92 and against the sealing cup 54 for moving the piston 52 first to the position of Figure 4 with the disc 58 of the piston engaging a face 5| on the valve plug 44 to effect a seal between the bypass passageway 69 and the outlet side of the check valve of 36. Then upon further pressure being exerted by the knob I62, metal to metal seating will occur between 46 and 48 as in Figure 5 which positively stops further compression of the disc 50 so as to prevent the shortening of its life.

With this arrangement, I have the advantage of both a resilient seal, the life of which is usually not very great but is desirable from the standpoint of sealing efficiency, and a metal to metal seal which is not always reliable because grit may get betweenthe surfaces yet is desirable because it will outlast a resilient seal many times over. However, with my combination arrangement, a resilient seal is effected and then the resilient element is protected by a metal to metal seating which positively prevents further compression of the resilient seal so that its life is many times that of a seal not protected in this manner. At the. same time, the pressure may increasev greatlyafter metal to metal seating to effect a moreeflicient-sealingbetween the metal surfaces, and if any grit is present between them, I still have a resilient seal that holds against the. pressure. r 1 r The check valve 36 is similarly constructed and operates in a similar manner so that both valves are relatively long-lasting and servicefree for many thousands of; operations as distinguished from the necessity in most hydraulic brake .valvesof replacing resilient sealing elements after a few. thousand operations.

After the valve 46-.4850 is closed, it-is obvious that the :only passageway for brake fluid from the master cylinder. to the lines 14 and I6 is through thecheck valve 36. Accordingly, the brakesmay be applied by depressing the pedal 15 in the usual manner but the brakes will be held applied when the pressure is released from the brake pedal, due to the back pressure causing the check valve 36 to close. The brakes will then remain applied untilsuch time as it is desirable to release them.

Release of the'brakes is accomplished by rotating the knob|62 counterclockwise which permits the spring 66 to open the bypass valve 485046 and move the brake fluid in the line 92 in a reversedirection which causes the piston 86 to follow-up the threaded element 98, The rotation of the knob I02 need be no more than about half a revolution to move from operative to inoperative position of the emergency brake lock unit or vice versa. When the bypass valve is open, of course, the brake fluid returns from the lines 14 and 16 through the bypass passageway 69 and into the master cylinder I0.

Hand operation of the knob I02 .is desirable so that the driver can have his feet free for operation of the clutch and accelerator, particularly when releasing the emergency brake lock on an uphill slope. By using the arrangement shown in Figure 9, location ,of the knob is dispensed with and instead the lever l24 may be merely swung to the dot and dash position to render the brake lock operative, or to the full line position for rendering it inoperative.

My system is readily adaptable for all types of hydraulic brakes, and has a number of advantages apparent from the foregoing objects and specifications.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my emergency brake lock withoutdeparting from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an emergency brake lock, a brake lock unit comprising a body having a valve seat, a check valve normally seated thereon, said valve body having a lateral extension provided with a the brake lines with said, check valve opening toward the brake lines, a bypass passageway around said check valve, a spring openedbypass' valvecontrolling saidpassageway, and hydraulic meansoperable from a remote pointsuch asthe. steering columnfor positively. closing: said bypass; valve: when it is desirableto render said brake the master cylinder and the brake lines withsaidi check valve opening away from the master cylinder, a bypass passageway around said .checkvalve, a bypass valve controllin said passageway, spring means normally opening said bypass valve, and

hydraulic means including an actuating piston; an actuated piston and screwmeans to move said actuating piston and thereby said actuated piston, said screw means being operable from a remote point for causing said actuated piston to selectively close and said spring means to open said bypass valve with the closing action positive under the influence of said hydraulic means.

3. An emergency brake lock comprisinga brake lock'unit having a body provided with a'valve seat, a check valve normally seated thereon, said valve body being adapted for interposition between a master cylinder and the brake lines, said valve body having a plural outlet for individual connection with different'lines'to thebrakes, said check valve opening away from the master cylinder, a bypass passageway around said check valve, a bypass valve controlling said passageway, spring means normally opening said bypass valve, a piston for controlling said bypass valve, a control unit for controlling said piston comprising a second piston and manually operable leverage means to move the same in one direction, and a hydraulicconnection between said pistons for moving the former to close said bypass valve or permit it to be opened by said spring means and: said second piston thereby, returned inacccrdance with movementsrofsaid first piston by said spring means.

4; In-a brakelock system, a check valve unit having a swivel connection with a master cylinder permitting said unit to be positioned alongside the-master cylinder butinany quarter of a circle; in a plane at right anglesto the axis of the master cylinder, said unit having a plural connecting means with the brake lines to permit individual connection with difierent brake lines, said unit includin check valve openingtoward the lines, a bypass valve around said check valve, each of saidvalves comprising a; valve seat and a valve plug, a -spring; to normally close said bypass valve,

means for manually operating said bypass valve froma remote position, said means comprising a first piston and a second piston, a cam lever operable when moved in one directionto move said i'irst piston, said first piston being hydraulically connected with saidsecond piston, said second piston being operatively connected with said bypass valve, and said spring being operable to act through said pistons and hydraulic connection to cause said first pistonto follow said lever when movedin. an opposite direction.

' ALFREDYB. SEPPMANN.

REFERENCES CIT-ED Thetfollowing references are of record inthe file of this patent? I V UNITED STATES. PATENTS 444,930 Great-Britain Mar; 31, 1936 

